The Maezio brand of continuous fiber-reinforced polycarbonate composites (CFRTPs) developed by Covestro are characterized by their very light weight, high strength and exceptional flexibility of design.

This means that waste generated during the production of composites also becomes a valuable raw material. However, because they consist of different materials that cannot be easily separated from one another, the recycling of composites is a challenge.

Covestro is cooperating with recycling specialist carboNXT on this. It has developed a process that allows the waste to be processed on an industrial scale.

The recycled polycarbonate composite is blended with new polycarbonate – the light blue granules – to form new plastic products (the black granules) which are tested before being launched on the market.

"We are very excited about this joint solution, as we cannot process the materials ourselves for technical reasons," said Lisa Ketelsen, Head of Thermoplastic Composites at Covestro. "By recycling according to type at our partner's plant, the raw materials can be converted back into valuable products with similarly good properties as those characteristic of virgin materials."

"Our company has many years of experience in recycling carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastics and has the necessary plant technologies to process such waste. We were therefore the partner of choice for this task," added Tim Rademacker, general manager at Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials and responsible for the carbon fiber recycling business. "From the processed waste, we produce high-quality new compounds of carbon fiber-reinforced polycarbonate for Covestro at CarboNXT."

Demand for such recycled products is high because they are valuable raw materials, but also because more and more industrial customers and consumers are looking for more sustainable products.

The project will now be further developed to market maturity by Covestro, Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials and possibly other partners. It is part of a global strategic program with which Covestro is focusing on the circular economy.

The Maezio brand of continuous fiber-reinforced polycarbonate composites (CFRTPs) developed by Covestro are characterized by their very light weight, high strength and exceptional flexibility of design.

This means that waste generated during the production of composites also becomes a valuable raw material. However, because they consist of different materials that cannot be easily separated from one another, the recycling of composites is a challenge.

Covestro is cooperating with recycling specialist carboNXT on this. It has developed a process that allows the waste to be processed on an industrial scale.

The recycled polycarbonate composite is blended with new polycarbonate – the light blue granules – to form new plastic products (the black granules) which are tested before being launched on the market.

"We are very excited about this joint solution, as we cannot process the materials ourselves for technical reasons," said Lisa Ketelsen, Head of Thermoplastic Composites at Covestro. "By recycling according to type at our partner's plant, the raw materials can be converted back into valuable products with similarly good properties as those characteristic of virgin materials."

"Our company has many years of experience in recycling carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastics and has the necessary plant technologies to process such waste. We were therefore the partner of choice for this task," added Tim Rademacker, general manager at Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials and responsible for the carbon fiber recycling business. "From the processed waste, we produce high-quality new compounds of carbon fiber-reinforced polycarbonate for Covestro at CarboNXT."

Demand for such recycled products is high because they are valuable raw materials, but also because more and more industrial customers and consumers are looking for more sustainable products.

The project will now be further developed to market maturity by Covestro, Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials and possibly other partners. It is part of a global strategic program with which Covestro is focusing on the circular economy.